Grotte Chauvet 2 – Ardèche
Discover the first great masterpiece of humanity, dating back 36.000 years. In a wooded park of 15 hectares, the Chauvet 2 cave – Ardèche, the largest replica of a cavity in the world, restores the magic of the Chauvet cave, listed by UNESCO.
36.000 years ago, in a deep cave, the first artists in the history of Humanity painted a masterpiece: horses, lions, rhinoceroses and many other animals captured from life, hunting , running or confronting each other.
Discovered in 1994, the Chauvet cave, which revolutionized the history of art and mentalities, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its replica, the Chauvet 2 – Ardèche cave, opened in 2015, today allows the public to discover the first great masterpiece of Humanity.
An unmissable cultural destination a stone's throw from the Gorges de l'Ardèche and Pont-d'Arc, it has established itself as the most visited cultural site in Ardèche.
A visit to the cave invites you on a journey to the origins of art, to an immersion in Prehistory.
On the site, other discoveries await you, such as the Aurignacian Gallery which completes the visit to the replica and allows you to better understand who our ancestors were, their art and their environment, in an immersive and interactive scenography.
Through a brand new immersive exhibition, “Grotte Chauvet, l’Aventure Scientifique,” Grotte Chauvet 2 invites you to follow the scientists’ work step by step, to explore their methods and to experience the scientific adventure yourself.
Throughout the year, a cultural program, conferences, workshops and events allow you to prolong the experience and rediscover the immemorial gestures of our ancestors.
Admission includes a guided tour of the cave, access to the Aurignacian Gallery, the “Chauvet, the Scientific Adventure” exhibition, and workshops held during the holidays and weekends from April to October.
Also enjoy the restaurant and its panoramic view, open all year round, as well as the bookstore and its more than 1000 references.
Discovered in 1994, the Chauvet cave, which revolutionized the history of art and mentalities, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its replica, the Chauvet 2 – Ardèche cave, opened in 2015, today allows the public to discover the first great masterpiece of Humanity.
An unmissable cultural destination a stone's throw from the Gorges de l'Ardèche and Pont-d'Arc, it has established itself as the most visited cultural site in Ardèche.
A visit to the cave invites you on a journey to the origins of art, to an immersion in Prehistory.
On the site, other discoveries await you, such as the Aurignacian Gallery which completes the visit to the replica and allows you to better understand who our ancestors were, their art and their environment, in an immersive and interactive scenography.
Through a brand new immersive exhibition, “Grotte Chauvet, l’Aventure Scientifique,” Grotte Chauvet 2 invites you to follow the scientists’ work step by step, to explore their methods and to experience the scientific adventure yourself.
Throughout the year, a cultural program, conferences, workshops and events allow you to prolong the experience and rediscover the immemorial gestures of our ancestors.
Admission includes a guided tour of the cave, access to the Aurignacian Gallery, the “Chauvet, the Scientific Adventure” exhibition, and workshops held during the holidays and weekends from April to October.
Also enjoy the restaurant and its panoramic view, open all year round, as well as the bookstore and its more than 1000 references.
Further information :
To enjoy the visit, the minimum age is 3 years old.
Wheelchairs are available on request at reception and at the cave entrance.
Wheelchairs are available on request at reception and at the cave entrance.
Services for children
Who were our artist ancestors, what world did they live in? Come and find out at the Paleolithic camp! Experiment with their artistic techniques by drawing on the walls of the cave-workshop. Learn how to light a fire, how to hunt...
Video
Themes:
Location details
6 km from Vallon Pont d’Arc towards Saint Remèze/Bourg St Andéol
- GR route within 1 km
- Isolated
- Mountain view
- In the countryside
Costumed
Customers
Language(s) of the visit
German, English, French, Italian, Dutch
Audio guide language(s)
German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese
Group visit services
- Unguided group tours permanently
- Guided group tours on request
Opening
| Opening hours from January 16 to December 31, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Open on Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays in January
Exceptional Closure(s)
- 28/01/2025
Pricing
| Pricing | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
| Full price | 18 € | Not disclosed |
| Reduced price | 9 € | Not disclosed |
Annual pass (unlimited): €25
The price includes:
– Access to the exhibition “Chauvet Cave, the Scientific Adventure”
– Access to the Aurignacian gallery
– Guided tour of the cave
– Access to activities during school holidays and certain weekends
Preferential rate with our partners: Cité de la Préhistoire and Grand site de l’Aven d’Orgnac / Pont du Gard / Crocodile farm. Under conditions.
The price includes:
– Access to the exhibition “Chauvet Cave, the Scientific Adventure”
– Access to the Aurignacian gallery
– Guided tour of the cave
– Access to activities during school holidays and certain weekends
Preferential rate with our partners: Cité de la Préhistoire and Grand site de l’Aven d’Orgnac / Pont du Gard / Crocodile farm. Under conditions.
Kids
(Free for children under 10)
Payment methods
Services
Equipment
Services
Activities on site
- Animation
- Children's entertainment
- Temporary exhibitions
- Manual workshops
Home animals
Accessible tourism
Hearing impairment
Video guides in LSF available at the entrance to the cave.
Magnetic induction loops are available for visiting the cave.
Lighting equipment for lip reading and a booklet for the hearing impaired can be requested at the site reception or at the restitution.
Self-guided tours with smartphone app are available at the end of the day.
A visitor's booklet for the hearing impaired is available in print at the cave reception or can be downloaded in digital format to prepare your visit in advance.
Magnetic induction loops are available for visiting the cave.
Lighting equipment for lip reading and a booklet for the hearing impaired can be requested at the site reception or at the restitution.
Self-guided tours with smartphone app are available at the end of the day.
A visitor's booklet for the hearing impaired is available in print at the cave reception or can be downloaded in digital format to prepare your visit in advance.
Physical disability
The entire site and the restitution are accessible to PRM with a level path. *
Smooth rolling and barrier-free ground
Minimum passage width of 90 cm
The toilets are accessible and equipped with grab bars.
Transfer wheelchairs can be loaned to you subject to availability at the entrance to the site and the cave.
PMR spaces in the car park are available near the site entrance: 2 spaces for long vehicles and 16 spaces for individuals.
*Some paths are slightly steep. Consult the site map with the ideal paths for wheelchairs and strollers.
Smooth rolling and barrier-free ground
Minimum passage width of 90 cm
The toilets are accessible and equipped with grab bars.
Transfer wheelchairs can be loaned to you subject to availability at the entrance to the site and the cave.
PMR spaces in the car park are available near the site entrance: 2 spaces for long vehicles and 16 spaces for individuals.
*Some paths are slightly steep. Consult the site map with the ideal paths for wheelchairs and strollers.
Visual impairment
A booklet of relief drawings of the decorated walls of the replica is available on request at the entrance to the restitution.
Our mediators are trained in description during visits.
Audio guides are available with audio description in 4 languages (French, English, German and Dutch).
Our mediators are trained in description during visits.
Audio guides are available with audio description in 4 languages (French, English, German and Dutch).
Mental handicap
Our teams are used to working with people with mental and psychological disabilities.
Simplified booklets (FALC) of practical information and visits in printed form are available at the site reception or can be downloaded in digital format to prepare your visit in advance.
Simplified booklets (FALC) of practical information and visits in printed form are available at the site reception or can be downloaded in digital format to prepare your visit in advance.
